Dagami Kimbap & Uncle Tong Kimbab (Jeju City, Jeju)

For all kimbap-lovers, here’s one of the best kimbap places in all of Jeju called Dagami Kimbab. I know it’s a pretty bold statement to make, but as someone who’s eaten and made my share of kimbap, these “little” guys are an epiphany.

First the food. The rolls of kimbap are huge. As you can see in the pics below, they’re fist-sized (as measured by my partner’s wrist and then forearm), and I’d call it a feat if you could pop a whole piece into your mouth. At first, I thought the size was more for show than taste, but after trying out a few pieces they were good as advertised. Packed with tons of flavor and juiciness, we’ve tried everything on the menu and they’re all great in their own way. We especially fought over the Hanwoo Roll 한우롤 (Korean Beef Roll) and Samgyeop Kimchi Ssam 삼겹김치쌈 (Pork Belly n Kimchi Wrap). I can’t find the right adjectives to do them justice, but if you can imagine yourself at a restaurant that serves the best bulgogi or samgyeopsal along with the best banchan side dishes, then wrapped or rolled into a kimbap, this is what it would look and taste like. Yes, it’s that good. *Fair warning: the Ssam 쌈 Rolls include spicy peppers called Chungyang gochu” (청양고추) that may or may not bring you to your knees. You can get them without the peppers upon request so think carefully before ordering.

Through no fault of their own, there are some minor inconveniences here. First, there are only two tables with only two seats each. Second, there are usually people queued out the door during peaks hours. And lastly, their location is at a busy intersection with limited parking. For these reasons we usually call ahead and get the kimbap to-go, which eliminates all three inconveniences mentioned and puts a smile on our face every time. 🙂

Hanwoo Roll up close and personal. My personal favorite from the bunch.These pieces are pretty big. Deciding between a one-bite or two-bite combination was our dilemma on the first visit.This is the Chamchi Royale (cute name, eh?). Tuna and other goodies packed into one bite.We got some take-out to share with the family at home and we made believers out of them, too!Small wrist or big kimbap? Hmmm.Although the place is packed and busy throughout most of the day, these ajummas were super-friendly and provided the best customer service.One of the few negatives is the small, almost non-existent dining area. Two small tables with two small chairs. We got lucky on this visit.Here are the prices for the kimbap. Very reasonable considering the quality and size.

Next up, Uncle Tong Kimbab. With a cute name like that, it has to be great, right? Right! This family-friendly kimbap joint has all the characteristics of a great kimbap place: cartoonish atmosphere with their trademark piggy logo everywhere, real comic books for the kids, cute info-graphics for the adults, and of course, awesome types of kimbap that represent the best of Jeju ingredients. From their Gulbi Kimbab (Yellow Croaker Rice Roll) to their Heukdon Kimbab (Tonkatsu Rice Roll w Jeju Black Pig), the place is creating some fine kimbap that might otherwise be shunned by kimbap purists. Personally, I was hesitant to try them at first, but after one bite I’ve been a loyal customer ever since. And if kimbap wasn’t enough, they’re selling some other winners like Udo Dangkong Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes w Peanuts) and several Udon (Thick Noodles) varieties. So, if you’re in the Nohyeong-dong or Ara-dong area, make sure to give the place a try!